PNG police in firearms refresher training to ward off public allegations

Senior police officers have been given a week’s refresher training in the use of firearms following an uproar over the force opening fire on peacefully protesting University of Papua New Guinea students on June 8, wounding 23 people.

The officers were in training at the Bomana Police Training College on the outskirts of Port Moresby.

“Firearms are one of the dangerous equipment that police use,” said Commander Perou N’Dranou. “It’s there for a purpose to make sure that we do our job properly to protect life and property.”

The police have faced widespread criticism over the use of firearms with critics claiming that they are using firearms illegally.